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The yearly Rhythm and Blues Christmas Concert featured a lineup of artists renowned for their holiday albums. Rather than centering on carols, the night acted as a sentimental reason for a voyage back to the sincere and emotional sound of 1990s R&B.

Starting Acts: Timeless Feelings

The group Dru Hill presented classic R&B in coordinated attire, with music videos from the 2000s playing on screens behind them. Following this, a performance of mostly slow jams from Joe prepared the audience for the headlining artists.

The Powerful Set

The opening of the song Last Last skillfully segued into He Wasn’t Man Enough, tying in Braxton's artistic legacy. Initially, her performance with a live band appeared anchored in the time period of her peak fame.

However, deep into her set, she opened up about her struggle with lupus and being told she might not perform live again. Performing Breathe Again in a single spotlight, she gave a deeply heartfelt performance. “For as long as I live, I will never forget tonight,” she declared earnestly.

Driving guitar chords then launched the audience into Long As I Live, solidifying her command over the audience's emotions. She encored with an flawless, though somewhat abridged, version of her signature hit, Un-break My Heart.

The Group Boyz II Men: Vocal Masters

Taking the stage in strikingly matching all-white suits, Boyz II Men opened with Motownphilly. They performed hits like Water Runs Dry and On Bended Knee, showcasing breathtaking three-way vocals that were both tight and reactive to their live band.

Their performance included interpretations of inspirations, including a memorable guitar piece on Purple Rain, and tracks influenced by them, like Bruno Mars’s Locked Out of Heaven.

A Dash of Christmas Spirit

Towards the end, the evening turned to the Christmas mood with renditions of Silent Night and Let It Snow. The performance concluded with a powerful finale of hits including One Sweet Day, I’ll Make Love To You, and End of the Road.

Final Impressions

Although the night's production experienced some glitches, and the feeling at times was of stars performing a tribute to their past selves, the overall result was transformative. The crowd was temporarily taken back to the peak era of R&B, going home sprinkled with sparkle rather than snow.